Crossovers sweep High Speed Hitters, firm up semis bid

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Apr 16, 2024 08:36 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Chery Tiggo outplayed an erratic PLDT side with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-20 victory on Tuesday night, April 16, to firm up its semifinal bid in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City. 

Chery Tiggo outplayed an erratic PLDT side with a 25-22, 25-16, 25-20 victory on Tuesday night, April 16, to firm up its semifinal bid in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City.

Chery Tiggo extends its winning run to five games. (PVL Images)

Sisters Eya and EJ Laure combined for 17 kills to finish with 12 and 10 points, respectively, in pacing the Crossovers, who stretched their winning run to five games to improve to a 7-2 win-loss record.

The victory not only halted PLDT’s five-game winning streak but created a four-way logjam at second place with the High Speed Hitters, the Creamline Cool Smashers and the Petro Gazz Angels.

They trail solo leader Choco Mucho, which totes an 8-1 mark.

The Crossovers needed one hour and 32 minutes in dispatching the High Speed Hitters, who fell into a maze of errors and gave up 27 points in the process.

Eya Laure also joined forces with Ara Galang in providing Chery Tiggo’s rock-solid net defense, conspiring for five of the team’s eight blocks.

The Crossovers’ win overshadowed the efforts of Savi Davison, who tried to lift PLDT to victory by pouncing on 22 points that went futile.

Crossovers survive Angels for fourth win

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Mar 21, 2024 09:48 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Chery Tiggo came through with clutch plays as it outhustled Petro Gazz, 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, March 21.

Chery Tiggo came through with clutch plays as it outhustled Petro Gazz, 25-21, 18-25, 22-25, 25-19, 15-13, in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Smart Araneta Coliseum on Thursday night, March 21.

Chery Tiggo picks up win No. 4 against Petro Gazz. (PVL Images)

Mylene Paat stepped on the crunch with hard-hitting kills for the Crossovers that unlocked them from 11-all in the pivotal fifth set en route to their fourth win in six games.

The victory, which came on the heels of its morale-boosting three-set upset victory over fancied Creamline, also tied Chery Tiggo with its victim at fifth place.

Paat exchanged attacks with Petro Gazz hitter Jonah Sabete late in the match including a pivotal off-the-block spike that gave Chery Tiggo the 14-13 matchpoint advantage.

But a crucial attack error from Sabete that went long sealed the 2-hour, 31-minute match in the Crossovers’ favor.

Paat finished with 10 points built on three blocks, while Eya Laure steered Chery Tiggo throughout with 15 points highlighted by 14 kills.

Ara Galang played in the first three sets and finished with 12 points, while EJ Laure came off the bench in the second frame and went on to contribute 10 points. Ponggay Gaston was equally impressive by unloading all her nine points on attacks.

Brooke Van Sickle exploded for 27 points while Sabete erupted for 22 points for Petro Gazz, but their efforts went futile as Chery Tiggo also banked on its net defense by posting 13 blocks.

Crossovers crush Solar Spikers for first PVL win

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Feb 21, 2024 01:08 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Chery Tiggo made its title campaign felt with a 25-6, 25-15, 25-15 rout of newcomer Capital1 in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday night, Feb. 20.

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Chery Tiggo made its title campaign felt with a 25-6, 25-15, 25-15 rout of newcomer Capital1 in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City on Tuesday night, Feb. 20.

Chery Tiggo Crossovers open their season on a winning note. (PVL Images)

The Crossovers flexed their might against the jittery Solar Spikers with new recruit Ara Galang leading the all-around charge to claim their first victory and join the Petro Gazz Angels in the winning column.

Galang, who came from the disbanded F2 Logistics, came through with 12 points built on nine kills, two aces and one block. 

“Excited lang talaga to play with my new teammates,” said Galang. “Hindi mahirap yung adjustment pero alam naming marami pa rin kaming kailangan gawin para i-improve yung game namin.”

Chery Tiggo, which hopes to eclipse its fifth-place finish last year, started hot with an 11-2 start and went on to dominate the opening set before encountering stiff resistance from Capital1 in the next two frames.

Mylene Paat took charge of the Crossovers’ offense by pouring all her 11 points on attacks, while skipper Aby Maraño and Ponggay Gaston combined for 11 points.

Jannine Navarro, Sydney Niegos and Patty Orendain tried to lift Capital1 by teaming up for 16 points, but their efforts went futile.

Sprinter Kristina Knott shatters PH indoor record in Arkansas race

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Feb 19, 2024 03:32 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Fil-American sprinter Kristina Knott kept her Paris Olympics campaign alive after breaking the Philippine indoor record in women’s 200 meters at the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, Arkansas over the weekend.

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Fil-American sprinter Kristina Knott kept her Paris Olympics campaign alive after breaking the Philippine indoor record in women’s 200 meters at the Arkansas Qualifier in Fayetteville, Arkansas over the weekend.

Kristina Knott resets the women's 200m indoor record at the Arkansas Qualifier over the weekend. (File Photo)

The 2020 Tokyo Olympian clocked 23.57 seconds to shatter the four-year-old national mark of 23.90sec set by Zion Corrales-Nelson at the MPSF Championships in Seattle, Washington.

However, Knott’s performance could only put her at sixth overall behind Madison Whyte, who timed 23.01sec. 

Niesha Burgher and Jassani Carter timed 23.09sec and 23.19sec for second and third places, respectively.

The 28-year-old Knott, a double gold medalist at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, is gunning for a return trip to the Olympics after competing in Tokyo where she timed 23.80sec in 200m outdoor event and failed to advance.

She was known to break the long-standing 33-year-old national outdoor record in the women’s 100m set by Lydia de Vega-Mercado at the 1987 SEAG by clocking 11.27sec at the 2020 Drake Blue Oval Showcase in Des Moines, Iowa.

So far, only pole vaulter EJ Obiena has qualified to Paris from the Philippine track and field team.

Alkhaldi, Sanchez banner PH team in World Swimming Championships

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Feb 10, 2024 03:26 PM 

AT A GLANCE

• Olympians Jasmine Alkhaldi and Kayla Sanchez banner the seven-player Philippine squad when the swimming competition kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 11, in the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

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Olympians Jasmine Alkhaldi and Kayla Sanchez banner the seven-player Philippine squad when the swimming competition kicks off on Sunday, Feb. 11, in the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Kayla Sanchez, left, and Jasmine Alkhaldi compete with five other Filipinos in the World Swimming Championships. (Kayla Sanchez Instagram)

Alkhaldi and Sanchez both aim for return trips to the Olympics as the competition serves as a venue to earn berths to the Paris Games slated July 26 to Aug. 11.

The 30-year-old Alkhaldi competed in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Olympics while Sanchez, 22, was part of the Canadian relay squad that won the 4x100-meter freestyle relay silver medal and the 4x100m medley relay bronze before deciding to compete for the PH team.

Joining Alkhaldi and Sanchez are Teia Salvino, Xiandi Chua, Thanya Dela Cruz, Jarod Hatch and Jerard Jacinto.

Swimmers needed to reach the respective qualifying time standards to make it to the Olympics. World Aquatics, however, also give universality slots of one male and one female to countries with no Olympic qualifiers.

But expect all seven Filipino swimmers to go all out not only with high hopes of making a huge splash but also in improving their respective times.

First to see action will be Hatch in the men’s 50m butterfly and the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay squad on Sunday. On Monday, Feb. 12, it would be the turn of Dela Cruz (women’s 100m breaststroke), Jacinto (men’s 100m backstroke) and Salvinio (women’s 100m back).

Salvino returns on Feb. 13 for the women's 200m free race, before Sanchez starts her bid in the women's 100m free on Feb. 15 along with the women's 4x200m freestyle team.

Alkhaldi, meanwhile, opens her campaign on Feb. 16 in the women's 50m fly, along with Chua (women's 200m back) and Hatch (men's 100m fly).

Feb. 17 will have the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay, Dela Cruz (women's 50m breast), Jacinto (men's 50m back), and Alkhaldi (women's 50m free).

Chua (women's 400m medley) and the women's 4x100m medley team compete on Feb. 18.

The country sent Remedy Rule and Luke Gebbie at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with Rule managing to advance to the women’s 200m butterfly semifinals.

But it was way back in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics that the country last won a medal in the sport courtesy of Teofilo Yldefonso’s bronze medal feat in the men’s 200m breaststroke.

F2 Logistics Cargo Movers bid farewell to PVL

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

  

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AT A GLANCE

• F2 Logistics bade farewell to the Premier Volleyball League as it shifts its focus on grassroots development, the management announced Wednesday night, Dec. 13.

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F2 Logistics bade farewell to the Premier Volleyball League as it shifts its focus on grassroots development, the management announced Wednesday night, Dec. 13.

In a statement posted on social media, the management thanked the league and its fans for all the support throughout their stint.

F2 Logistics Cargo Movers. (PVL Images)

“The F2 Logistics Cargo Movers Volleyball Team has been more than just a sports team; it has been a source of inspiration and pride for us and, we hope, for all of you,” the statement read.

“We deeply value the relationships built and memories shared with our fans, sponsors, and the entire volleyball community.”

The team debuted in 2016 in the Philippine Superliga where it won five championships, while also bagging the title in the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) Champions League for Women in 2021.

That same year, the Cargo Movers joined the PVL where their best finish was a bronze medal in the First All-Filipino Conference early this year.

They also had four silver and three bronze finishers throughout the eight years as a team. 

But player injuries hounded the squad including in the ongoing Second All-Filipino Conference, where the Cargo Movers failed to advance to the semifinals after finishing eighth out of 12 teams in the eliminations.

The management, however, said it “remains committed to supporting the growth of Philippine volleyball through the sport at the grassroots level,” where they continue to support the De La Salle University Lady Spikers and expanding their helping hand to the University of Perpetual Help Volleyball team and to other parts of the country.

“The bond we have forged in the F2 Logistics Cargo Movers is one that has stood the test of time and we will continue to be afamily long after that this team is gone,” the statement read.

“We thank you for standing by us and being part of our journey.”

Among the notable players of the Cargo Movers are former La Salle standouts like Aby Maraño, Ara Galang, Dawn Macandili, Majoy Baron, Kim Fajardo and Kianna Dy. 

Cool Smashers outhustle Angels, remain unbeaten in PVL

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Nov 9, 2023 11:31 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Creamline survived the gritty challenge of Petro Gazz with a tough 25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 15-13 victory to remain unscathed in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City late Thursday, Nov. 9.

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Creamline survived the gritty challenge of Petro Gazz with a tough 25-22, 23-25, 25-27, 25-19, 15-13 victory to remain unscathed in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Philsports Arena in Pasig City late Thursday, Nov. 9.

Creamline's Tots Carlos, right, scores against Petro Gazz's Jonah Sabete. (PVL Images)

Michele Gumabao and Tots Carlos sizzled at the net by conspiring for 34 kills to finish with 19 and 16 points for the Cool Smashers, who tightened their grip of the top spot with their fifth straight victory in as many outings.

Down two sets to one, Creamline came through with huge plays to steal the fourth frame before hanging tough in the pivotal fifth set to hand Petro Gazz its second loss against four victories.

The Cool Smashers also survived the explosive performances of Grethcel Soltones and Jonah Sabete, who pumped in 23 and 22 points for the Angels that eventually went down the drain.

Petro Gazz, behind the efforts of Remy Palma and KC Galdones, was equally assertive in the defensive department after making 10 blocks, but Creamline was a tough nut to crack with Jema Galanza, Alyssa Valdez and Bernadeth Pons also lending a helping hand.

Galanza chipped in 15 points, while Valdez and Pons added eight points apiece.

Cool Smashers clobber Defenders for solo lead

BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA-VILLAR

Oct 26, 2023 04:02 PM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Creamline made short work of Gerflor, 25-15, 25-12, 25-10, to remain unscathed in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Thursday, Oct. 26.

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Creamline made short work of Gerflor, 25-15, 25-12, 25-10, to remain unscathed in the Premier Volleyball League All-Filipino Conference at the Ynares Center in Antipolo on Thursday, Oct. 26.

Creamline celebrates a point in its match against Gerflor. (PVL Images)

Everybody contributed a little of everything for the Cool Smashers with Michele Gumabao pacing with 12 points highlighted by 10 kills.

It was the third straight win in as many outings for Creamline to take the solo lead while pushing Gerflor deeper into the cellar with a 0-3 hole. 

Confident of their chemistry and cohesion, Cool Smashers coach Sherwin Meneses shuffled his lineup to attack the struggling Defenders on all angles.

There were no signs of slowing down for Creamline in the third set as they took a commanding 12-3 and 14-7 leads and never looked back.

Jema Galanza and Tots Carlos also carried the fight for the Cool Smashers with seven points each, while Bernadeth Pons and Pau Soriano chipped in six points apiece despite seeing action in only two sets.

Creamline also exposed Gerflor’s lethargic plays by dominating in attacks, 44-20. The Cool Smashers also provided strong net defense by posting 11 blocks against the Defenders’ only one, apart from firing four aces. 

Gerflor mentor Sammy Acaylar also tried to find the right formula for his stalwarts, but nothing was working as Mary Grace Berte and Menchie Tubiera scoring five points apiece.